In 2011, Caroline started her company ‘Know your power,’ which provides training and coaching to children and adults who suffer from bullying. The bullying makes them feel insecure, and their self-image has plummeted. It is vital that they can set boundaries and stand up for themselves, but above all, they dare to be themselves (again). Unfortunately, many adults bullied in their youth still suffer from the consequences or are bullied again at work.
As an autor for Upturn 3 she shares her personal story, about how she had been bullied a lot and how she has managed to turn it positively. Caroline is also a mother of 4, an NLP Master practitioner, primary teacher, and ambulant counselor at schools. She started the Dutch ‘Sterktegenpesten’ community on Facebook, where she shares free information and organizes challenges. In this group, the members can also share their experiences with bullying and share tips and inspiration so they find support from others and are no longer alone.
It is often said that bullied people should become more resilient or set limits. They are forced because they are “different.” Caroline often hears harrowing stories from people who have tried everything and feel entirely unheard or acknowledged. Because she has been bullied for so long, she recognizes the feelings of inferiority and insecurity. She felt different from a very young age but had no idea why. Only in adulthood did she find out that she had ADHD. During the reintegration period after her burnout, she found out through the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator that she’s an INFP personality type, who is often described as an introvert, idealistic, creative, and driven by high values. Being yourself, being honest, and being authentic are extremely important to her. As a sensitive, caring, and compassionate INFP Type, she’s deeply concerned with the personal growth of herself and others. She believes that each person must find their own path.
She dreams that everyone who is bullied can feel that they are a wonderful and unique person. They can be ‘different’, and no one has the right to bully them. They should be proud of themselves and not feel lonely or powerless to leave the pain of bullying behind and genuinely feel that they can be themselves.
Caroline is proud that she persevered despite her uncertainty years ago and all the advice from her environment to stop as an entrepreneur when more competitive training sessions and coaches were added. Entrepreneurship is not something you can easily do on the side. But, since she became a full-time entrepreneur in 2021 and also started helping adults, she feels that she can really make a difference.